We are planning an exciting three-day, two overnight tour to Apollo De Karoo tented camp at the foot of the escarpment near Sutherland, a premium quality venue for 4-6 October 2019.
We cover some iconic roads such as Klein Cederberg Pass, Katbakkies Pass, Ouberg Pass, Gannaga Pass, Bainskloof Pass.
Only 12 persons total, in six insulated tents (cool in the day, warm at night), each with two single beds.
These tents are widely spaced apart, so snorers will not keep the entire camp awake.
Bedding and towels are provided.
A light and power-point is provided in each tent for charging your phone/GPS/camera/intercom.
Friday’s dinner will be braai-packs (two chops, wors and a side-dish) with braai-wood provided (Karoo doringhout).
Saturday’s dinner will be a Karoo sheep potjie with vegetables, served on rice.
Breakfasts will be traditional bacon & eggs, sausage, Wheatbix, bread with jam & cheese, juice, and coffee/tea.
All the ingredients will be provided, but we cook our own breakfasts in the communal kitchen/dining area.
There is an outdoors entertainment area with a Boma, fire-pit, pool table, DSTV sports channels and WiFi.
An honesty bar stocked with beers, ciders, spirits, tonic water, coke, lemonade, Fanta, red & white wine, plus some light snacks (crisps, salted peanuts). Payment for honesty bar goodies must be in cash upon check-out. No credit-card facilities. Free ice.
Facilities: Gas stove, microwave, fridge & freezer, cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery.
Three flushing toilets and three showers with gas-geysers.
Braai grid and potjie pot provided.
Indoor seating for 12 diners and an outside table.
An ideal venue for adventure bikers, as we do not have to carry everything we need to camp and eat. Please take torches/headlamps to walk between the communal social area and your tents at night.
The basic plan: Depart Friday morning from Winelands 1-Stop on the N1, riding 325km via DuToitskloof Pass (tar), Slanghoek Valley, Michells Pass (tar), Ceres, Gydo Pass (tar), refuel at Op-Die-Berg (165km from start), then via Klein Cederberg Pass (dirt), Katbakkies Pass (mixed surface), Peerboomskloof Pass (mixed), to Tankwa Padstal for refreshments.
Then all dirt up the R355, through the Southern section of the Tankwa National Park, to Apollo De Karoo at the foot of the escarpment.
Saturday morning after breakfast, we ride up the escarpment via Gannaga Pass (dirt) in the Tankwa National Park to the town of Middelpos to refuel (after 290 km range from Op-Die-Berg), then via Oupoort Pass (dirt), Kommetjie Se Hoogte Pass (dirt) to Sutherland to top up fuel (85km from Middelpos). Then down South through Rooikloof Pass (tar), Westward to descend the escarpment via Ouberg Pass (dirt), and back to Apollo De Karoo, a circuit of 300km total.
Sunday morning after breakfast, we ride home along 275km via Amandel Nek Pass (dirt), Thyshoogte Pass (dirt), Jukhoogte Pass (dirt), past Bike X-Cape to Tankwa Padstal for refreshments, then South to Karoo Poort (mixed surface), Bo-Swaarmoed Pass (dirt), Swaarmoed Pass (dirt), to Ceres to refuel (after 280km since refuelling the day before in Sutherland).
From Ceres, we head home via Michells Pass (tar), Baineskloof Pass (Tar) to the Winelands Engen 1-stop on the N1.
Total distance for the weekend is 900km. Please ensure that you carry at least 300km worth of fuel. If you have a small tank, then make a plan to carry extra cannisters or fuel-bladders. Fuel can be purcased at Tankwa Padstal at a premium price if you need to stretch your range a bit.
View this Google Map of the route at: http://bit.ly/ApolloDeKAroo-3DayRide
Below are videos showing each day’s route:
Relive ‘Day 1 to Apollo De Karoo 325km’
Relive ‘Day 2 Apollo circuit 300km’
Relive ‘Day 3 From Apollo 275km’
Below are videos of the more interesting passes in the sequence that we shall encounter on this tour. I can highly recommend that you pay for a membership to Trygve Roberts’ excellent website, http://www.mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za from which these videos are linked.